Combination garment and safety harness



' April 21, 1953 J. NIGRO COMBINATION GARMENT AND SAFETY HARNESS Filed April 24, 1950 Z4 INVENTOR.

Ja/fa /V/:7/'0 gag/2% nrromvz Patented Apr. 21, 1953 OFFICE COMBINATION GARMENT AND SAFETY HARNESS Julia Nigro, Kansas City, Mo. Application April 24, 1950, Serial No. 157,680

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates togarments for children, the primary object being to provide a covering that is quickly and easily placed upon the child, inexpensive to manufacture, capable of being laid out ina flat condition for pressing and adaptable for use as a safety factor in tying the child to a chair or the like while the garment remains in use for its primary intended purpose as a covering for the body.

It is the most important object of the present invention to provide a childs garment including an initially fiat, elongated strip of fabric material having a pair of opposed notches formed therein and intermediate itsends, presenting a crotch portion and a pair of panels for covering the front and'back of the infant, there being tying means on the two panels for securing the garment in place on the wearer.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a garment as above set forth, wherein the tying tapes extend transversely across thesheet of material, su'bjacent thecrotch portion and are secured to the respective panels throughout the length of the bight of the tapes whereby to present a strong, rigid construction capable of use as a safety means in tying the infant to a chair or other support.

Other objects of the present invention include the way in which the garment is further attached to the wearer by neck-encircling'rneans on one of the panels; the way in which both of the tapes completely encircle the infants body and are tied at the front and back; and other more minor objects including details of construction that provide for simplicity, cheapness and attractiveness.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a combination garment and safety harness made in accordance with the present invention showing the same operably mounted on an infant.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational View of the garment per se.

Fig. 3 is a rear perspective view showing the garment in use as a safety harness; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the garment in a stretched-out, flat condition.

As clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the garment hereof is made from an initially flat,

elongated strip of material, broadly designated A pair of opposed, inwardly 2 p sides of the crotch portion I6, it being intended that the panel [8 be normally disposed at the front of the wearer and that panel 20 constitute a back portion of the garment.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the notches l2 and I4 are preferably of an arcuate nature for purposes of comfort, protectionand appearance and that the longitudinal edges 22 and 24 of the back panel 20 are arcuate or outwardly curved throughout the entire length thereof. Edges 22 and 24 terminate in a straight, outermost free end 26 subjacent the crotch portion l6. The longitudinal edges 28 and 36 of the front panel l8, converge from the notches l2 and I4 respectively as that end of the panel 18 opposite to crotch portion i6 is approached.

A second pair of opposed notches 32 and 34 are formed in the sheet Ill adjacent that end of the panel (8 opposite to crotch portion l6 presenting a bi'b portion 36 and extensions 38 and 4|] forming a part of the shoulder straps of the garment. A substantially semi-circular notch 42 is portion of the garment.

A pair of substantially triangular-shaped.

identical fabric members 44 and 46 are disposed in partial overlapping relationship and have direct connection with the extensions 38 and 4|] respectively by means of lines of stitching 48. The ends of the members 44 and 46 opposite to the lines of stitching 4B, are contiguous and interconnected by a line of stitching '56. The members 44 and 46 and the extensions 38 and 46 cooperate therefore, in presenting a head opening 52 and a pair of shoulder straps 54.

A pair of elongated, body-encircling tying tapes 56 and 58, are secured directly to the panels l8 and 20 respectively. Tying tapes 66 and 58 are preferably superimposed upon the normally outermost face of the sheet I0, and stitched or otherwise secured thereto throughout the length of that portion of the tying tapes that engages the strip [0. The tying tape 56 traverses the panel 18 adjacent the bib portion 36 and is connected to the panel I 8 by a'pair of lines of stitching 60. Likewise, the tying tape 58 traverses the back panel 20 adjacent the edge 26 thereof and is secured to the panel 26 by a single line of stitching 62.

Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, illustrate clearly the manner of use of the garment just described. The notches l2 and I4 receive the legs of the infant with the crotch portion l6 in the normal position between the infant's legs and the panel 3 t 20 extends upwardly along the: back of the infant and is held in place at end 26 thereof by tape 53 encircling the infants body and being tied as at 64. Panel I8 exitends upwardly from crotch portion l6 along the front of the child and that end of the panel [8 adjacent bib portion 35 is held in place by the tape 56 that encircles the infant's body and is tied at the back as at 68. Bib 36 is held in place by neck-encircling portions 38, 40, 44 and 46 of the garment. It is seen that the panels [8 and 20 are of sufficient width as to overlap on both sides below tapes 56 and 58 and that the members 44 and 46 cooperate with extensions 38 and 40 in presenting shoulder straps 54.

When it is desired to utilize the garment as a safety harness, it is but necessary tountie the tape 56 and extend the same around a slat or the like 68 of a chair or other support 50 and reform the knot 66 as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. Since tape 56 completely en circles the infants body and extends across the outermost face ofthe panel 48,- the entire stress is absorbed by the tying tape 56 when the infant attempts to release himself.

Another advantageous feature of the entire garment that isof high importance. relates to the way inwhich the same can be laid out in a flat condition in the manner shown in Fig. 4, after laundering to facilitate pressing.

Many other advantages will emanate from use of a garment of this character and those that fairly come within the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the appended claim, are manifestly contemplated hereby.

Having thus described the invention, whatv is claimed as new and desired tobe secured by Letters Patent is: 7

An article of clothing for an infant adapted for use as a safety harness, comprising an elongated strip of material having a substantiallyoval rear panel at one end thereof, a' substantially rectangular top panel at the opposite end thereof, and a substantially square front panel between the rear panel and the top panel, there being a pair of opposed notches in the strip disposed to present a crotch portion between the rear panel and the front panel; a first body-encircling tape secured to the rear panel across said one end of the strip and adapted for tying at the front of the infant; a second body-encircling tape secured to the strip across said front panel adjacent the top panel and adapted for tying normally at the back of the infant, said crotch portion being substantially midway between the tapes, whereby the latter are relatively overlapped when tied around the infant, and thereby adapting the second tape for tying around a portion of a chair to-hold the infant in the chair; and a pair of polygonal members presenting a back panel, each member having an edge secured to the top panel and alonger, opposed edge remotefrom the top panel, the longer edges being contiguous, coextensive in length, and .perma nently interconnected, said members each having a thirdv edge, said third edges crossing, there being a neck opening between'said third edg'es of the members and the top panel, presenting a shoulder strap on each side respectively of the neck opening, said members being relatively overlapped between the neck openingandsaid interconnected edges. 7

JULIA NIGRO;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS" 

